Reclosable cartons



Oct. 16, 1962 R. GUYER 3,058,646

RECLOSABLE CARTONS Filed April 25, 1959 INVENTOR Reyna/o4; GugerATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1962 3,058,646 RECLOSABLE CARTONS ReynoldsGuyer, White Bear Lake, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper ProductsCompany, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Apr. 23,1959, Ser. No. 808,372 Claims. (Cl. 22944) This invention relates to animprovement in reclosable cartons and deals particularly with a type ofcarton which may be used for containing cigarettes or the like and fromwhich the contents may be dispensed when desired.

An object of the present invention resides in the provision of a cartonwhich is formed in two complementary sections which are hingedlyconnected together. The carton includes a partial liner which is securedto one of the sections and which telescopes into the other section. Thisliner is arranged to hold the contents of the package contained in onecarton section when the other section is hinged away so that thecontents of the package may be removed.

A feature of the present invention resides in a package which inpreferred form is formed in two sections which are separable alon g cutlines extending across the front panel, the top panel, and the rearpanel. The bottom panel is hinged so that the two sections may be foldedinto edge abutting relation or may be hinged apart to disclose thecontents.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of acarton which is formed of a blank which includes two half cartonsections which are connected by a wall including a hinge line by meansof which the two carton sections are connected. When formed, the twosections abut together to form the complete enclosure.

An important feature of the present invention lies in the provision of asimple and effective means of holding the carton either in open or inclosed position. A pair of tabs are cut from a portion of the linerpanel and the ends of these tabs is adhered to the pivotally supportedclosure section. The anchoring of these tabs to the closure section actsto normally hold this closure section in closed position. However, asthe closure section is hinged toward open position, the tabs fold in amanner to cause the side walls of the closure section to be flexedoutwardly thus placing the tabs under compression until the coversection is in fully open position. Due to the action of these tabs,resistance is created to folding the closure section either out ofclosed position or out of fully opened position.

These and other objects and novel features of the pres ent inventionwill be more clearly and fully set forth in the folowing specificationand claims.

In the drawings froming a part of the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the carton in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton in open position.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through a portion of the carton inopen position, the location of the section being indicated by the line33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the outerportion of the carton is formed.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the blank from which the liningportion of the carton is formed.

The completed carton A is formed of the blank B illustrated in FIGURE 4of the drawings, and the blank C illustrated in FIGURE 5 thereof. Theblank B is formed with a bottom panel which is foldably connected alongfold lines 11 and 12 to side wall panels 13 and 14 respectively. Theside wall panel 13 is foldably connected along a fold line 15 which isat right angles to the fold lines 11 and 12 to a rear panel 16; and theside wall 13 is also connected along a fold line 17 which is parallel tothe fold line 15 to a front wall panel 19. The terms front, rear andside wall panels are merely used as a means of designating the variousparts to simplfy the description.

The side wall 14 is foldably connected along a fold line 20 which isaligned with the fold line 15 to a rear wall panel 21. The side Wall 14is also connected along a fold line 22 which is aligned with the foldline 17 to a front panel 23. As is indicated in the drawings, in theparticular arrangement illustrated, the front and rear panels aretapered or wedge shaped in form, the rear panels 16 and 21 having matinginclined edges 24 and 25, and the front wall panels 19 and 23 havingmating inclined edges 26 and 27. In the closed position of the carton,the edges 24 and 25 abut and in a similar manner the inclined edges 26and 27 of the front wall panels abut.

A fold line 29 extends across the bottom panel 10 parallel to the foldlines 11 and 12 and spaced therefrom. Bottom flaps 30 and 31 areconnected to the rear panel 16 and front panel 19 respectively alongaligned fold lines 32 and 33. The width of the flaps 30 and 31 issubstantially equal to the width of the bottom panel 10 and the lengthof these flaps 30 and 31 is equal to the distance between the fold line11 and the intermediate fold line 29. The top closing flaps 34, 35 and36 are foldably connected to the upper edges of the walls 13, 16 and 19respectively along a fold line 37.

Bottom flaps 39 and 40 are foldably connected to the lower edges of therear panel 21 and front panel 23 along aligned fold lines 41 and 42which are substantially aligned with the fold line 12. The width of theflaps is equal to the width of the bottom panel 10 and the length of theflaps in a direction parallel to the fold lines 41 and 42 issubstantially equal to the distance between the fold line 12 and theintermediate fold line 29. Top closing flaps 43, 44 and 45 are hin gedlyconnected to the upper edges of the panels 14, 21 and 23 respectivelyalong a fold line 46.

In the formation of the carton blank B, the rear and front walls 16 and19 are folded upwardly at right angles to the side wall panel 13 and theflaps 30 and 31 are folded at right angles to the walls 16 and 19 intooverlapping relation. The'blank is also folded along the fold line 11 sothat the flaps 30 and 31 overlie or underlie the portion of the bottompanel 10 between the fold line 11 and the intermediate fold line 29.When the bottom flaps 30 and 31 are secured in face contact with thebottom panel 10, this portion of the carton is completed.

In a similar manner, the rear and front walls 21 and 23 are folded intoright angular relation with the side wall 14, the bottom flaps 39 and 40are folded into overlapping relation and these flaps are adhered in facecon tact with the portion of the bottom panel 10 between the fold line12 and the intermediate fold line 39. The upper end of the carton isclosed by folding the top closing flaps 34, 35 and 36 in face contactand folding the top closing flaps 43, 44 and 45 in parallel facecontact. When thus formed, a complete rectangular carton is formedincluding two sections which are in edge abutting relation.

The liner panel C is secured in place to the carton section 47 which ison one side of the intermediate fold line 29 and extends into the othersection 49 which is on the opposite side of the intermediate fold line29. The liner C includes an intermediate panel 50 which is of properwidth to fit within the carton section 49, the panel 50 being foldablyconnected along parallel fold lines 51 and 52 to a rear wall panel 53 ina front wall panel 54.

3 The panel 53 is of a Width substantially equal to the combined widthof the rear panels 16 and 21 and the front panel 54 is substantiallyequal in width to the combined width of the front panels 19 and 23 ofthe blank B. The rear wall panel 53 and front wall panel 54 are ofsubstantially the same weight as the front and rear wall panels of theblank B and these panels are secured by adhesive or other suitable meansto the inner surface of the rear panel 16 and the front wall panel 19.When thus arranged, the liner projects into the section 49 and lies insurface contact with the walls 14, 21 and 23 when the carton is inclosed position.

In preferred form, the upper edge of the liner C is notched as indicatedat 55. This notch extends across the wall 50 and into the rear and frontwalls 53 and 54 throughout the width of section 49 at this elevation. Inother words, the ends 56 and 57 substantially coincide with the edges ofthe two sections when the carton is closed.

The broken lines 59 and 60 across the rear wall panel 53 and front wallpanel 54 defines the portion of these panels which is secured to section47 of the carton and the portion which projects from section 47. A pairof tabs 61 and 62 are cut from the portions of the panels 53 and 54which lie between the broken lines 59 and 69 and the fold lines 51 and52. These tabs 61 and 62 are defined by short cut lines 63 and 64 whichextend substantially along the broken lines 59 and 6t relatively longcut lines 65 and 66 which are substantially in alignment, and shortercut lines 67 and 69 at the other ends of the cut lines 63 and 64 andparallel to the cut lines 65 and 66. The tab 61 is foldably connected tothe panel 53 along a fold line 70 which is directed toward the juncturebetween the broken line 59 and the lower edge of panel 53. The tab 61 iscentrally divided by an additional fold line 72.

The tab 62 is similarly connected to the panel 54 by a fold line 73which is directed toward the juncture '74 between the imaginary brokenline '60 and the lower edge of the panel 54. The tab 62 is providedintermediate its ends with an additional fold line 75 also directedtoward the point 74.

In practice, the end portions of the tabs 61 and 62 outwardly of theintermediate fold lines 72 and 75 are adhered to the wall panels 21 and23 of section 49 of the carton. As a result, the two sections arenormally held in the closed position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of thedrawings by these tabs 61 and 62. However, if the upper portions of thetwo sections 47 and 49 are swung apart along the fold line 29 to theposition illustrated in FIGURE 2, the connecting portions-of the tabs 61and 62 which are between the intermediate fold lines 72 and 75 and theinner fold lines 70 and 73 must swing outwardly in order to fold. Thesetabs accordingly flex the side walls 21 and 23 of the carton section 49outwardly, placing the connecting portions of the tabs undercompression. As the connecting portions of the tabs fold past 90, theresiliency of the side walls will cause the section 49 to swingcompletely open into the position shown in FIGURE 2. The closing of thecarton creates a similar force and the connecting portions of the tabsmust again swing outwardly, causing the side walls of the carton section49 to bow outwardly. As the tabs fold past 90, the compressive forcecreated by the side walls will swing the carton section 49 into fullyclosed position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

As indicated in FIGURE 2, the package of cigarettes which is containedvirtually fills the carton when closed but one corner of the wrapperprojects above the notched portion 55 of the liner member and forwardlyof the carton section 47 where the contents of the package are readilyavailable.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principlesof construction and operation of my improvement in reclosable cartons,and while I have en- 4 deavored to set forth the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made withinthe scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit ofmy invention.

I claim:

1. A carton including a rectangular body including front, rear and sidewalls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall including a hingeline extending across the same from said front wall, top wall and rearwall, and a lining member including a front panel, a side panel and arear panel lying inwardly of said front wall, one side wall, and saidrear wall, said lining panel being free of engagement with said one sidewall and being secured to said front and rear walls on the sides of saidcut lines nearest the other side wall, tabs cut from said front and rearpanels of said lining member and foldably connected thereto near thejuncture of said front and rear panels and said side panel, andanchoring tabs cut from said front and rear panels and hinged to saidfirst named tabs, said anchoring tabs being secured to the innersurfaces of said front and rear walls, respectively.

2. A carton including a rectangular body including rectangularlyarranged front, rear and side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, saidbody being formed in two sections hingedly connected along a fold lineextending across one wall, and cut lines extending continuously acrossthree walls from one end of the fold line to the other end thereof, twoof the walls containing cut lines being parallel and at right angles tosaid one wall, and the third wall containing the out line being parallelto said one Wall, and a lining member including an intermediate panel,lying inwardly of said one of said uncut walls and having side panelslying inwardly of said parallel cut walls, said side panels beingsecured to said two parallel cut walls on the side of said cut linesadjoining the other uncut wall, said lining member cooperating with thewalls of one of said section to provide a tubular outline when the othersection is hinged along said hinge line, and tabs cut from said sidepanels of said liner member and anchoring tabs cut from said side panelsand hinged to said first named tabs, said tabs being directed away fromsaid intermediate panel and said anchoring tabs being adhered to theinner surfaces of said parallel cut walls forming said other section.

3. A carton including tubularly arranged side walls, and end closuresclosing the ends of said side walls to form a rectangular body, a hingeline extending across one of said end closures, and continuous cut linesextending from the ends of said fold line across the parallel side wallsand across the other end closure to provide a body section and a closuresection hingedly connected along said hinge line, a lining memberincluding an intermediate panel lying inwardly of and adjacent the uncutwall of said closure section and side panels lying inwardly of, andadjacent to the cut parallel side walls, the portions of said sidepanels lying inwardly of the portions of parallel cut panels forming apart of said body section being secured thereto, whereby when saidclosure section is hinged away from said body section, said liningmember maintains the tubular form of said body section, the side panelsof said lining member including hinge tabs cut therefrom and connectedthereto along fold lines, and anchoring tabs cut therefrom and foldablyconnected to said hinge tabs along fold lines, said tabs being directedaway from said intermediate panel, and said anchoring tabs being securedto the inner surfaces of said cut side walls forming a part of saidclosure section.

4. A carton including tubularly arranged side walls, and end closuresclosing the ends of said side walls to form a rectangular body, a hingeline extending across one of said end closures, and continuous cut linesextending from the ends of said fold line across the parallel side Wallsand across the other end closure to provide a body section and a closuresection hingedly connected along said hinge line, a lining memberincluding an intermediate panel lying inwardly of and adjacent the uncutwall of said closure section and side panels lying inwardly of, andadjacent to the cut parallel side walls, the portions of said sidepanels lying inwardly of the portions of parallel cut panels forming apart of said body section being secured thereto, whereby when saidclosure section is hinged away from said body section, said liningmember maintains the tubular form of said body section, the side panelsof the lining member including hinged tabs cut therefrom and connectedthereto along fold lines, and anchoring tabs cut therefrom and foldablyconnected to the two said hinge ta-bs along fold lines, said tabs beingdirected away from said intermediate panel, and said anchoring tabsbeing secured to the inner surfaces of said out side walls forming apart of said closure section, said fold lines connecting said hinge tabsto said side panels, and said fold lines connecting said anchoring tabsto said hinge tabs extending substantially along lines which extendradially from the ends of said first named hinge line.

5. A carton including, in series, a first side wall, a bottom Wall and asecond side wall, front walls hinged to one edge of said side wallsalong aligned fold lines and rear walls hinged to an opposite edge ofsaid side walls along aligned fold lines parallel to the said one edge,the front walls secured to the first and second side walls being foldedin a common plane in edge abutting relation and the rear walls beingfolded in a common plane in edge abutting relation, top and bottomclosure flaps secured to the upper and lower edges of at least some ofsaid wall panels forming top and bottom closure walls, the top wallsextending in abutting relation when said front and rear walls are inabutting relation, a hinge line extending across said bottom wallbetween the juncture of said front walls and the juncture of said rearwalls, and a channel shaped liner including a front panel, a side paneland a rear panel lying inwardly of said front walls, said second sidewall, and said rear walls respectively, said liner having an open upperend inwardly of the top wall adjacent to said other side Wall wherebywhen said other side Wall with the front, rear, and top Walls connectedthereto are hinged away from abutting relation with the front, rear andtop walls connected to said one side wall, the contents of the cartonare partially exposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,992,373 Johnson Feb. 26, 1935 2,098,818 Andrews Nov. 9, 1937 2,178,967Markert Nov. 7, 1939

